9/7/2016 DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Mail - RE: Peer review ofour draftstatus review for the turquoise parrot (Neophema pulchella) [SEC= PUBLIC]
Hartley, Dana
RE: Peer review of our draft status review for the turquoise parrot (Neophema pulchella) [SEC=PUBLIC] 1 message
Copley, Peter (DEWNR)
Hi Dana
Here are my responses to your set questions.
1. Are our descriptions and analyses of:
a.
the taxonomy, species description, habitat, life history and ecology,
Yes; my only nit-pick comments are that I (along with many others, I suspect) would dispute the claim that there is a resident population at Gluepot Reserve. Also, in my opinion, the distribution data suggest that while the scarlet-chested parrots do have a considerable range overlap with Bourke's parrots, the former tend to be found more often away from the pastoral (better-watered) country. But, neither comment is critical to your decision-making.
historical and current distribution,
Yes. However, at the bottom of p. 9 Factor A, the comment that the semi-arid / arid landscapes occupied by scarlet-chested parrots were, and are, used primarily for cattle and sheep grazing, with small areas mined for minerals and ore, and about 7% protected in conservation reserves,
(i) neglects to mention the very large proportion that is Aboriginal-held lands (e.g. for the Alinytjara Wilurara Natural Resources Management Region of South Australia - the area that is predominantly Aboriginal-held lands (see http://www.naturalresources.sa.gov.au/alinytjara-wilurara/ about-us/our-region ) - ,
(ii) includes an out-dated % of protected area coverage (in the past 15 years this is likely to have increased significantly (especially through the addition of Indigenous Protected Areas )) and
(iii) because of (i) and (ii) I think it likely that the majority of the parrot's habitat on pastoral lands rates third in importance, rather than first. To verify this would take some GIS calculations; but this is not critical to your needs. The main implications are that the species' habitats are better protected than in 2001.
and trends for the species accurate? https://mail.google.com/mail/u/O/?ui = 2&ik= 26a48b4abe&view= pt&search= inbox&th=156e4737a45e0425&siml=156e4737a45e0425 9/7/2016 DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Mail - RE: Peer review ofour draftstatus review for the turquoise parrot (Neophema pulchella) [SEC= PUBLIC] Yes. In fact, we have just undertaken a status review of all South Australian vertebrates and scarlet-chested parrot was assessed as "Rare" with probably less than 3000 mature individuals in SA, but no evidence of declines in the State. This assessment was undertaken by some of the best ornithologists in the State but is still to go through (i) public consultation and (ii) various political processes. It has not been published.
d. Do we use the best scientific and commercial information available?
Yes, to the best of my knowledge you have, and I agree with your assessments about the gaps in knowledge.
2. Do we provide accurate and adequate review and analysis of the factors affecting the species
habitat loss and modification [fire],
I do not dispute your statements about the potential impacts of fire. However, frequency, extent and intensity of wildfires appear to be increasing across most of the species' range (though accuracy of data is very patchy). The best references I can find to forward for your consideration are from a very large research program based in the mallee eucalypt scrubs and woodlands in the NW of Victoria, SW of New South Wales and central east of South Australia (the SE portion of this parrot's range):
"Time-since-fire and inter-fire interval influence hollow availability for fauna in a fire-prone system"
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/ S0006320712001899
e.g. "In this region, hollow-dependent fauna will benefit from increased fire-free periods, both in terms of individual fire events and the intervals between repeated fires."
"Effects of time since fire on birds: How informative are generalized fire response curves for conservation management?"
http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1890/11-0850.1/ abstract
e.g. "Postfire successional changes extend for decades and management of the age class distribution of vegetation will need to reflect this timescale. Response curves revealed important seral stages for species and highlighted the importance of mid- to late-successional vegetation (>20 years). Although time since fire clearly influences the distribution of numerous bird species, predictive models of the spatial distribution of species in fire prone landscapes need to incorporate other factors in addition to time since fire."
over-utiI ization,
Yes.
https://mail.google.com/mail/u/O/?ui = 2&ik= 26a48b4abe&view= pt&search= inbox&th=156e4737a45e0425&siml=156e4737a45e0425 9/7/2016 DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Mail - RE: Peer review ofour draftstatus review for the turquoise parrot (Neophema pulchella) [SEC= PUBLIC] disease,
Yes
predation,
Yes
regulatory mechanisms, and so on?
Yes
3. Are there any significant oversights, omissions, or inconsistencies in the status review?
No, although I have highlighted parts of the text (attached) where spelling (e.g. 'Qdontocarpa'), grammar or logic (19th/20th century trends are reversed) should be corrected. Also, for information, both the orange-bellied parrot and the swift parrot are now listed nationally as 'critically endangered'.
4. Are our conclusions logical and supported by the evidence we provide?
Yes
5. Did we include all necessary and pertinent literature to support our assumptions and conclusions?
Yes, this is a species with limited detailed research
I hope this is helpful.
Kind regards
Peter Copley
Senior Ecologist, Threatened Species and Ecological Communities
Conservation & Sustainability Unit; Conservation and Land Management Branch Department of Environment, Water and Natural Resources Ph (08)8207 7718 / 0427 015 098;
81-95 Waymouth Street, Adelaide, SA, 5000.
GPO Box 1047 Adelaide SA 5001 DX 138
PLEASE NOTE NEW LANDLINE NUMBER AND ADDRESS environment.sa.gov.au I naturalresources.sa.gov.au I waterconnect.sa.gov.au
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